Six Garo rebels give up with arms, ammo
TURA: Half a dozen armed militants from two rival outfits, GNLA and ASAK, led by the former’s Assam area commander have surrendered with sophisticated arms before East Garo Hills police in Williamnagar on Monday.
The four GNLA militants and two ASAK cadres handed over their weapons and surrendered before district police chief Davis Nestell R Marak in the district headquarters, Williamnagar.
The GNLA militants were led by self-styled corporal and Assam area commander Lipsing M Sangma alias Phukan and included Pilington Ch Marak alias Rakcheng, Washing S Sangma alias Tapcheng and Tengson R Marak alias Agar.
The two ASAK militants who also gave themselves up are Smarjin G Momin alias Tengton and Limai A Sangma alias Katep.
The militants handed over three AK rifles with 96 rounds of live ammunition, a Winchester rifle, a pump action shotgun, two 7.65 pistols, 10 rounds of 577/450 mm ammo, 4 shotgun rounds and three wireless handsets.
Despite the bitter rivalry between the GNLA and ASAK outfits, the two militants from the ASAK organization were able to be lured away by the Assam commander of the GNLA.
The two ASAK militants operating under its southern command were able to get drawn in for the surrender by the GNLA commander Phukan who happened to know the two of them from their earlier heydays in the parent outfit.
ASAK was formed by a group of GNLA militants led by finance secretary Reding T Sangma who parted ways with GNLA chief Sohan D Shira.
The efforts of church elders and also a surrendered militant in facilitating the militants to return to the mainstream were also lauded by the police.
